The Hon. Bob Riley
Governor of Alabama

 

Robert Renfroe “Bob” Riley serves as the ex officio president of the UM Board of Trustees. He is the 52nd governor of Alabama. Riley was first elected as governor in 2002 and was re-elected during the 2006 mid-term election.

In 1996, Riley was elected a U.S. representative for Alabama’s Third Congressional District. Riley worked to pass the first balanced budget in a generation, the first tax cuts in 20 years, and a stronger national defense from his seat on the House Armed Services Committee. He also fulfilled a promise to serve only three terms.

He was born and reared in the small Clay County town of Ashland, where his family has lived on ranches and farms for six generations.

After graduating from the University of Alabama with a degree in business administration, he returned to his hometown, married his high school sweetheart and started a small business with his brother selling eggs door-to-door. The venture grew to become one of the largest integrated poultry operations in the Southeast.

For the next 30 years, Riley ran a number of successful businesses including a grocery store, a trucking company, a car dealership, a real estate company and a small pharmacy. He’s also been a cattleman for more than 25 years.

Under Riley’s administration as governor, Alabama has achieved record low unemployment rates, experienced the creation of more than 100,000 new jobs, and attained a budget surplus. Riley made investments in the Alabama Reading Initiative and the Alabama Math, Science and Technology Initiative and invested record funding into its classrooms. Riley was sworn into office for a second term in January 2007.

Riley and his wife Patsy have raised four children: Rob, Jenice, Minda and Krisalyn, who is a graduate of Montevallo.